A/N: LAST INTRODUCTION CHAPTER! Also it's the last you'll see of Ritchie and Serena for a while, but it shows their friendship and personality.

"Alright Pikachu! Tomorrow is our journey! Give this combination all you've got!"

Pikachu nodded and ran across the open field, commencing a quick attack. However, halfway through it became a Volt Tackle. Pikachu jumped and spinned, combining Volt Tackle and Iron Tail to smash the rock below him to a fine powder. In fact, Pikachu had taken no recoil from the attack, despite using Volt Tackle.

It was just one of the techniques Ash and Pikachu had perfected. Pikachu now knew Electro Ball, Thunder, Thunderbolt, Dig, Brick Break, Thunder Wave, and Light Screen, a mind other moves. Max and Ash had extensively studied Pikachu and made sure he knew all the moves he could. Additionally, Pikachu was extremely accurate and powerful. He was agile enough to have his quick attack look like a double team attack.

"Good work buddy! We're definitely ready to go on a journey and win the Hoenn League!"

"Pika-kachu!"

"And thank you too Max. I couldn't have practiced and taught Pikachu in such a short time without you."

Max blushed at the praise and responded, "It was nothing Ash, I really enjoyed it. I've learned a lot from you and I'm probably a stronger trainer already because of you."

"I'm glad I could help you then Max. Go on home and sleep, tomorrow is a big day for both of us."

Max nodded and waved goodbye, preparing himself to rest early for his big day.

When he got home, he was greeted by his father who had such a large smile on his face, it looked almost creepy.

"Hey Max! I have a surprise for you." Max's eyes lit up. He knew his father had bought him a Pokenav after seeing him try to hide it under the couch.

Sure enough, his dad bestowed him with a Pokenav with all the latest features, including a beta version of Pokemon locators. It could call out hiding wild Pokemon by playing their mating call. This new feature was called Dexnav.

Max hugged his father tightly, perfectly content with his gift. In fact, he was beyond grateful. He did not, however, expect to be bestowed with another gift.

Norman unshrunk a Pokeball from his belt. On that Pokeball, gold letters spelled out Max. Max looked at it curiously and received it from his father. He pressed the button in the middle and a Slakoth came out and hugged Max's leg.

"You see Max, I know you wanted to catch your first Pokemon, but this baby Slakoth hatched a week ago and I wanted to give him to you so you could remember me whenever you used your first Pokemon."

Max's eyes watered at his father's words and gift. He rushed and gave his dad a hug, with Slakoth still hugging his leg.

"Thank you dad… You don't know how much this means to me. I'll take good care of it."

"I'm sure you will son, now go to bed. Tomorrow is going to be an exciting day."

"Goodnight dad!"

Max rushed up the stairs to say goodnight to his mom and go to bed, forgetting the sleeping Slakoth was clinging to his leg. Luckily for both of them, Slakoth held on tight and remained asleep as Max rushed into his mom's room to say goodnight. Slakoth still hung tight as Max climbed into bed, not even bothering to put on pyjamas, and fell asleep with a smile on his face.

SPACER

Ash Ketchum walked to the Pokemon Center with the orange light of the sunset making him look like another shadow. The night was surprisingly calm. The doors of the Pokemon Center glowed in the dark streets which were illuminated by yellow light.

Ash walked in and delivered Pikachu to Nurse Joy, who by now was used to taking in Pikachu every day. Pikachu was healed faster every day, much to the nurse's surprise.

"Ash, when are you going in your journey?" The nurse made small talk with Ash as he was the only one in the center.

"I leave tomorrow, thank you for healing Pikachu all these times Nurse Joy."

"I'm going to miss you Ash, and Pikachu too. By the way, since you're leaving tomorrow, I have two things to give to you."

She handed Ash an envelope and a charm with a note. He opened the envelope first.

Dear Ash,

If you're reading this it's because you have gone out on your journey. There's so many thing I would like to tell you, but it doesn't seem right to put it in a letter. Rey gave me your number a few days ago, but I thought you'd like the surprise. I hope you do remember me on your journey, and I'll be going on one too! I met this girl named Shauna, and she's going with me on a journey to win the title of Kalos Queen. I've decided to not be a trainer and participate in Pokemon Showcases instead, I hope you dorm mind if I don't promise a battle with you. You have to see my Fennekin though, it's the cutest thing! There's a picture of us at the bottom. I miss you Ash, and Rey too. Write to Vaniville town of you want to reach me, my mom will forward it to you. If not, send a quick message to my Pokedex. It's one of the new features. Just search up my name.

With love,

Serena

Indeed the letter had a photo of a smiling Serena holding a fox-like Pokemon in her hands with a Squirtle on her lap. She was wearing a new kind of French hat and even Ash had to admit she looked pretty. He turned the letter around since he felt something heavy on the back. On it was a necklace with a golden Pokeball, although it was only a quarter of a Poke ball and has the initials AK engraved on it. He read the description under where the necklace was taped.

P.S. I know you and Ritchie hate jewelry, but I bought four of these, one for each of us. I hope you'll wear it, so when we all meet again, the Pokeball can be complete. Good luck on your journey, and please wear it.

Ash smiled at the chain and put it on, despite not liking jewelry. He then looked at the charm which he had also received. It was blue and had the shape of a star.

The note read: Ash, Professor Birch found four of these in his studies, and gifted it to me to share with you guys. He sends his condolences and hopes to meet you. Anyways, this is a shiny charm. It apparently makes shiny Pokemon more common, but I don't believe it. It's nice that we all have one though, so just keep it with you. I'll battle you someday, so be ready because I'm going to win.

Ritchie

Ash smiled at the charm and slid it on the golden chain next to the Pokeball. He felt his friends close for the first time since her moved to Hoenn. He tried out the feature on the Pokedex, and managed to send out a quick message thanking them and apologizing for not sending anything. Ritchie and Serena were asleep, but would receive their message in the morning.

"Ash, Pikachu is ready to go. I'll miss having you two here."

Pikachu jumped on Ash's head and said, "Pika pi!"

Ash roughly translated it to, "We'll miss you too!" He thanked Nurse Joy and walked off towards home. He and Pikachu slept soundly that night.

SPACER

Rey snuck out in the middle of the night. If Cresselia was to be trusted, she would meet her second traveling companion that night. She sat by the beach with her bulbasaur in her arms. An hour has passed, and Rey was dozing off. However, in the distance, a purple Pokemon slowly made its way towards the beach from the moonlight. Rey noticed it and stood up, preparing for battle.

The Pokemon beached itself and looked around. It had the instinct to come to this beach. It was promised a new chapter of its life would begin. It saw a girl on the beach with a green Pokemon, and wondered if she has anything to do with its fate.

Rey saw the beautiful purple Lapras and sent out Bulbasaur into battle stance. "Lapras, I was told you'd be here. I challenge you to a battle."

Lapras was exhilarated, it missed battling. It launched an ice beam at the green Pokemon and the battle commenced.

SPACER

The next day, Max woke up and got ready within two minutes. He had recalled Slakoth and was ready to go, except he didn't have his bag. He walked downstairs for his last breakfast at home, and found her mother holding his full bag.

"Max, I prepared your bag for you! Come have breakfast so we can enjoy having you here for the last time in a while.

Max was going to protest, but his stomach betrayed him and grumbled. He admitted defeat and ate the delicious breakfast his parents set out for him. There was not much talking during the meal.

When Max had finished eating, he stood up and went for his bag. "Mom, dad! I have to go. I'm going to be late to meet Ash."

Caroline ran up to her son and gave her one last hug before pulling back with tears in her eyes. Norman on the other hand, shook his hand and said, "Son, today you begin your journey to manhood. I'm expecting not you to become the gym leader someday, so make me proud."

Max gave his father a hug and headed out the door. He walked for about five minutes and reached the entrance to the route to Rustboro City and waited for Ash to show up.

SPACER

Ritchie woke up and called out his Charmander. "Come on Charmander, it's time to go."

He picked up his bag and walked into the kitchen. He ate a quick bowl of cereal before going to his brother's room. "I'm leaving on my journey now! Don't worry about me."

His brother was still half asleep and replied, "I'm sure you're capable of taking care of yourself. Have fun." He then headed off to sleep.

Ritchie chuckled and stepped out his front door and saw Dragonite resting against the tree. "Dragonite!" he called out. "Can you take me to Birch's lab? I'm going to start my journey from there."

Dragonite lazily nodded and let Ritchie climb into his back along with Charmander. They flew off into the rising sun. Ritchie's journey had begun.

SPACER

"Serena hurry up or Tierno and Trevor are going to leave without us!" Shauna's high pitched voice interrupted Serena's breakfast. She was irritated, but decided not to be left behind. She returned her Pokemon to their Pokeballs and looked at her mother.

"Hi dear, your friends are waiting. Take care of them, I know they're not ten but they're thirteen and you're the oldest. I'm counting on you! Now go have fun."

Serena hugged her mother and stepped out the door, grateful Kalos rules only gave Pokemon to trainers over 12 years of age. Shauna dragged her to the gate of Vaniville town where Trevor and Tierno were waiting.

"About time Serena," Tierno said.

"Yeah, we were about to go without you," said Trevor.

"Let's walk through the gate together, our journey begins now!" said an excited Shauna. As they all walked through the gates, none of them noticed Serena holding a necklace with two charms.

SPACER

Rey didn't have an emotional farewell. Her family hated getting up early, so she decided to say her farewells at night. Since she was a morning person, she left the house at sunrise. Unfortunately, she had fotgotten her breakfast, which she regretted slightly.

She reached the beach of Mossdeep City and looked at the space station one last time. She looked at her new Pokeball and smiled, she now knew why she had Lapras with her. She brought out Lapras, who came out with a shine.

"Lapras!" It said.

"Alright Lapras, we need to surf to Rustboro City with no distractions! That's where the first and easiest gym is. Let's do this!"

Lapras echoed her trainers enthusiasm as her trainer climbed her back. Lapras sailed off as fast as it could towards the chosen destination. Rey had started her own adventure, and would soon intercept Ash, or so she thought.

SPACER

Ash hugged his mother before leaving her for the first time. Delia was in tears, but she was happy for her son. She had a stable job and had filled his backpack with lots of new goodies. Ash also had a Pokenav now.

"Mom, I'm going to miss you but don't worry, I'll visit you before I go to the League."

"I'm sure you will Ash, go now. Don't keep Max waiting."

Ash looked at his mom one last time before turning and walking towards where he had decided to meet Max.

The last thing he heard from his mom was her usual bit of advice.

"Don't forget to change your underwear Ash!"

A/N: Hope you guys enjoy, next chapter Max gets his first Pokemon catch and so does Ash… GIVE SUGGESTIONS SO I CAN PICK THEIR TEAMS I also need Serena and Ritchie and Rey's team so, review and you get to have a say in the story! That is if you don't pick something irrelevant like Basculin. Ew.